A Lovely Birthday

My birthday started with this little guy. 6:45am he arrived and soon we were snuggled in on the couch bottle in hand and mouth. Probably a little after 7am found us both sleeping. Dan arrived on scene around 8:15ish and announced that I should get ready for church because we were going out for breakfast! While I readied myself, Dan dressed Brady in his church attire...even changing his diaper! :)
Breakfast was lovely. Mimi's cafe...good coffee, bacon and spinach eggs Benedict, wonderful company. I taught Sunday school and was amazed at how many of the kids knew it was my birthday I even got a couple cards! When it came time to announce birthdays, nearly the whole of them erupted in "It's Tess' birthday!!!!" I was taken aback and warmed in heart as they enthusiastically sang to me! It also took me off guard how many people in church wished me a happy birthday...guess that's what you get in a small church! Thanks everyone! And thanks to Matthew and Kristy Moore for taking Brady so Dan and I could go out for dinner!

After some wonderful phone conversations with family members (thanks for calling! It's always so good to hear your voices again!) Dan and I headed to the train station. I had a gift card for Maggiano's (an nice Italian restaurant).

On the choo-choo....

While sitting there Dan asks me if I'm ready for my present. He said he only had a picture of it and handed me his phone. What I saw was the google earth image of my house...in this country..
My present?!?! Dan's taking me to Haiti!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In May!!!!! I'm SO excited!!!!
I think I nearly jumped up and down. Let me tell ya, he got a kiss for that one! :)

Once I composed myself, we de-trained and walked to Maggiano's. It was delicious! Had the most amazing Beef Medalion. They were having 5280 week so we got several courses included! Brochette, salad, main course, and dessert. The Pinot Grigio was lovely as well. Cheesecake of course rarely disappoints and it sure didn't! Our dinner was so romantic... :)

How can it not be when there's a guy like this?!?!

Definitely the better half!

Starbucks before getting back on the train.

What a lovely birthday. Thank you all who wrote me, sent cards, or phoned! As Dan remarked, "We're so blessed!" and we have a lot to be thankful for. Thanks Lord for another blessed year!

And my family in Ayiti Cheri.....SEE YOU IN MAY LORD WILLING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sew...it's February

And I haven't blogged in a long time! Ooops.
*My husband informed me that he was going to write about Valentine's Day (!) so...I guess we'll all have to wait for that!

But on to today. As I'm off this whole week, (Brady is on vacation) I've had time to try some projects. I've started an apron...but haven't finished it yet. It's coming.

But, I finally tried the art of fabric yo-yo making. Seriously, what took me so long?!?!?!?!

They are SO fun and cute! So I spruced up my new/old journal (I've only had it about 5 years). And made a few hair accessories.

Good ol' bobbies

Here's a great website for learning to make yo-yo's:

http://heatherbailey.typepad.com/photos/how_to_make_a_yoyo/hbyoyotutorial1.html

Sorry, you're going to have to cut and paste the site.

Hair clips

Hot glue works quite nicely....add a little more to the outside of the material in order to add a "non-slip" feature.

Pollyanna was a companion during these projects. I've been listening to it via books on tape. If anyone hasn't read it, I'd suggest it! If nothing else, it really challenged me to find the positives in life. In everything. Pollyanna makes it a game...called the "being glad" game. The harder and more awful the circumstance, the more fun the game! The challenge of finding something positive in a hard situation made Pollyanna "so glad!". Somehow she reminded me of how we Christians should be conducting ourselves. We, of all people, have so much to be glad about! In the story, you will find many people who are depressed, angry, and bitter, because they are only looking at how terrible their circumstance is. Pollyanna, aided by her bright personality, wiggles herself into people's hearts and encourages them to try the game. Interestingly enough, those who were once bitter, became happy and "so glad!". Shouldn't I be the same?

The Other Babysitter

Today I have both little kids I nanny for.

So far, so GREAT!

Claire (aka the other babysitter) did a fabulous job with Brady
She kept giving him toys...

Which made him happy!

And showed him how to use them...

Even proving that his swing could be used for other things...

"Take your shoes off, stay a while!"

Sleeping peacefully...at the same time!!!

Such duties are sure to tucker one out!

So Here Begins a Hobby...

Maybe.

I'm not far enough along to know for sure, but on account of the ideas that have been rolling around my head for quite some time, I'd assume YES.

Sunday, Grandpa Leman asked if I knew how to sew and if I'd be willing to hem up some of Grandma's dresses...I answered a shaky yes...warning him it'd been a while since I've sewn!

So today I got the dresses...and marked where they needed to be hemmed at. When I arrived home, I started pinning. Not supposed to be a big deal right?!?! Haha. I'm not sure what is up. Either the hemline curves or the material was cut on the bias...or more than likely, something that I'm not even aware of is occurring. Because let me tell you, that hem wouldn't line up for nothing! (maybe some of you have the answer/advice!)

I'm thinking a 911 call to my mother-in-law is in order! (Especially since I'm realizing how rusty the sewing sills really are!)

But onto more jovial subjects. There was a bit of a deal cut out over the dresses. You see, I have no sewing machine. I've kept my eye out at garage sales and on the Internet...but so far, no dice. Meanwhile all the sewing ideas had to be kept roaming around my head. BUT! Grandma has a sewing machine that she doesn't use anymore. For the deal: Grandpa said I could use the sewing machine in exchange for the dresses and any other little things that come up! Whoohoo! Really quite generous of them! :) Since I was going to have to wait on the dresses until someone will refresh me and help me with those hems, I decided to practice a bit.

The beast herself...ta-DA!

The project: I've been wanting to make a grocery sack holder for quite some time...see why?
(pathetic, I know)
A little online research, some fabric from Mom L., and this relatively quickly appeared. A stick on hook from pre-married days and...
Ah...much BETTER!

So we'll see about that hobby...

Leman Christmas in the Mountains

As tradition would have it, the Lemans assemble in the mountains early January not only to celebrate Christmas, but to relax and enjoy each other. Here is a glimpse of our lovely time!

Tuesday: After skiing with Caleb & Erin at Copper, we headed to the cabin. Combined with the snow, this canyon made for quite the breathtaking drive!

Wednesday: While the guys went skiing, we ladies had a day to ourselves. It started like this...reading, lounging, and doing a puzzle....

To enjoying the view from the porch....

here....

To being silly....

To taking a trip to Aspen! We went to some little shops before ending up at this little cafe. Turns out, this gentleman needed someone to write/frost his wife's name on her $50 cake he bought. I happen to know someone who decorates cakes...ERIN! He ended up buying our lunch and dessert for the favor. Thanks for lunch Erin!

Yup, Beautiful! Mt. Sopros. I love Colorado.

Erin helping me make dinner Wednesday night.

Thursday, we went on a hike. It was a hike that commemorated 14 firefighters that lost their lives in a wildfire.
Note Jake's snowstashParts of the climb were a bit interesting due to the snow. Erin showing off her hiking skills.

After hiking we soaked our sore bodies in the hot springs! I've never been to these natural hot tubs before...let's just say I'd go back! There was two huge pools that were naturally heated by a hot spring. At the place where the water came in, it was something like 112 degrees! And that's after being cooled!

Joel and Kristi arrived Thursday night! So Friday, while the boys went disk golfing, the ladies again, hit the town! This time, Glenwood Springs! For the second time, we browsed little shops, bookstores, and tiny fabric stores. After mom treated us to lunch (no guy needed a cake decorator here!) we hopped down a few storefronts to another cafe to buy sweets! YUM!

Friday night, Grandpa and Grandma Leman arrived in time for supper and the family gift exchange. After some relaxing of course!

After gifts, of course some vocal and finger exercise had to be done!

Saturday found us winding our way homeward...

The drive wasn't disappointing!

Through the Glenwood Canyon...seriously, the engineering to make these roads is amazing!

We had such a wonderful time. Being all together is a special treat. And this year I was much more comfortable with everyone than I was last year! :) I'm blessed!

As for the gifts...Kristi got "Auntie Erin" and "Auntie Tess" these African purses....
Oh yeah, if ya'll didn't already know, I'm gonna be an AUNT! Joel and Kristi are gonna have a little one! :)

We draw names and Jake got my name...I'll admit I was kind worried about what I was gonna get...but I shouldn't have. He got me this amazing map of Haiti! Framed and all. It was extra special cause I've been missing Haiti a lot of late.

Part of our gift from Grandpa and Grandma L. More books to add to my collection!!

And of course a big thanks to Mom and Dad Leman for the wonderful cabin in the mountains! It was quite the pleasurable experience! :)

Haha...Oops!

Today I did some baking while Brady took his nap. All seemed normal.

Made some of these

And some of these...

When Shayne came in to pick Buster Brown (aka Brady) up, he said, "Mmm...smells good in here. Is that bread?" "Nope," I replied, "Just cookies. Take one if you want." They leave. I continue to write up my grocery list and prepare to go get them. As I near the stove...it feels warm. Hmmm. Then I smell bread! What in the world?!?!? So I open my oven door and find this:
That ladies and gents is pizza dough. Yep. A golden loaf of pizza dough! I had gotten it out of the freezer this morning in anticipation of pizza tonight. Since things raise better in warm environments I placed it in the oven, still warm from my cookies. After it cooled a bit I turned it on "only momentarily" to warm it back up. Well, Momentarily grew to more than a few moments. Just glad it was in a GLASS bowl not a plastic one! Looks like Dan and I will be having bread tonight! And I'll be off to make more pizza dough! And it was supposed to be so easy...

Christmas Happenings

First off, I hope everyone had a blessed Christmas! God has sure been good to us. When I stop and think about how good I really have it, I'm humbled!

Christmas Eve Dan and I went over to Jake's to help him on his house. Dad L. and Jared were also there. We painted some, did some electrical work, grouted tile and the guys probably did a bunch of other things that I have no clue about! Jared bought some steaks on sale so needless to say we had a very filling lunch! Yumm.

Later, at home, Dan and I commenced our own little Christmas.

It started with this...

Some of this...

Then we were able to Skype my family in Haiti and watch them open some gifts! It's always so good to "see" them again! Haha... Brett was in his bumbo chair and was totally folded in half reaching out in front of him. At first I was like, "poor guy! sit up buddy!" but then I realized that a shiny piece of wrapping paper had caught his eye and he had folded in half just to reach out and play with it!!

After conversing with the fam, we continued with the gift opening theme...

I think he likes it :)

So, turns out I've been wanting one of these ever since we got our couches...
And look what my sweet husband got me!

Thanks Dan!He also got me the much needed CAN OPENER! Let's just say the old one made me really appreciate 1)my forearm muscles 2)normal can openers!
(the new one is on top!)

Ceremoniously getting RID if the old one: Good riddance!

We spent the rest of the evening snacking on hor'dourves (still stuffed from lunch!) , sipping hot chocolate, reading the Christmas story, and admiring our presents all snuggled up on the couch with our feet properly propped up of course!

Christmas Day, after church, we headed over to Papa Lemans to celebrate with Grandpa & Grandma Leman, and Jake. (Mom Leman was in Roanoke for Christmas -we know she had a lovely time but she was MISSED HERE!) Dad made some fabulously delicious pizza! I didn't want to stop eating. After lots of laughs, funny stories, and Grandpa reading the Christmas story, we made our way into the living room for some music! It's been a while since we've had a music night so it was long due! We were able to to call Mom L., Grandpa Hodel, and Uncle Paul over the phone and play a few Christmas selections for them! After Grandpa & Grandma left the boys and I played boggle (which I lost horribly at! That what you get for marrying into a family of work-smart people!) (well, except for Jake kept adding 'er' to words that don't make sense with 'er' added and Dan sometimes having a bit of trouble spelling correctly under stressful boggle-like situations.) But even with these for exceptions, I still lost!

Even though we didn't get a white Christmas, it was definitely still a wonderful day. In the readings we had of the Christmas story, a couple things really stuck Dan and I. The first being the joy of the angels. They were SO happy! Then, consider the shepherds. They were moved to ACTION! They didn't just sit around gawking and dumbfounded at the marvelous display of the angel choir. They believed first, then got up and searched for Messiah. But they didn't even stop there! They continued on to proclaim what had happened and who had arrived!

May we all get infected with that joy and action!

Happy New Year!!!!